In today’s fast-paced software development world, freelancers and small software companies often deliver great results in terms of functionality and design. However, when it comes to security, many overlook critical aspects such as data protection, API security, and secure coding practices. This focus on functionality over security can leave sensitive data exposed to breaches, putting your business and your customers at risk.

The Lack of Guidance on Regulatory Compliance

Freelancer developers often believe they’re doing the best they can, but the truth is, many lack a deep understanding of regulatory requirements or even the security protocols that need to be followed. Without the guidance of a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or equivalent expert, freelancers may unintentionally omit crucial security checks from the development process.

They may feel they’re doing their best, but they lack the expertise to recognize what actually constitutes best practices for security. As a result, the aftermath of a breach—whether it’s a regulatory fine for non-compliance, loss of customer trust, or severe data breaches—can be far more damaging than the cost of securing the software in the first place.

Small Software Development Companies Face Similar Pitfalls

It’s not just freelancers who face these risks. Many small software development companies also neglect to prioritize security unless they’re actively guided on the importance of embedding security checks into their development lifecycle. These companies, while skilled in the technical aspects of coding, may not have the cybersecurity knowledge to develop secure software or comply with industry regulations.

Developers, especially in small companies, often focus solely on the code—the front-end interface, backend logic, and database management. Yet without an understanding of cybersecurity practices like encryption, secure API design, vulnerability testing, and compliance regulations, these companies can easily introduce vulnerabilities that put your software, and your business, at significant risk.

Why Regulatory Compliance Should Not Be Ignored

The consequences of overlooking security checks can go beyond just reputational damage. Companies that fail to comply with regulatory requirements face steep penalties. Fines can reach millions of dollars, especially in industries like finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, where protecting customer data is paramount. These fines often stem from failures in data protection, such as not properly encrypting data in transit or insecure API practices.

Additionally, the repercussions of a breach are felt long after the incident has occurred. Beyond the financial loss from fines, your company may also face reputational damage, legal costs, and a loss of customer trust that can take years to rebuild. This is why security should always be prioritized, from day one, rather than treated as an afterthought.

The Importance of DevSecOps: Integrating Security Into the Development Lifecycle

A DevSecOps approach—the integration of security within the development and operations teams—is essential to mitigating these risks. DevSecOps ensures that security isn’t just an add-on at the end of the development process but is embedded throughout the software lifecycle.

This approach mandates continuous monitoring and regular security reviews, making security an inherent part of every development cycle. It includes practices such as automated security testing, vulnerability assessments, encryption checks, and compliance audits. Every aspect of the software—whether it’s the user interface, backend services, or APIs—is scrutinized for potential vulnerabilities.

The Role of Agile in Ensuring Security

Agile development, whether using Kanban or Scrum, plays a key role in ensuring that security is integrated into every phase of the software development process. Unlike traditional project management approaches, Agile focuses on continuous delivery of incremental improvements and emphasizes quality control at every stage.

In the context of Kanban, security checks are performed iteratively as each component of the software moves through the development process. Similarly, with Agile’s iterative sprints, security is built into every phase, ensuring that every piece of functionality—whether it’s a new feature or an API endpoint—is reviewed for security risks before it is deployed.

Rather than rushing features to deployment, both Agile and Kanban allow for careful review and assessment. Security vulnerabilities such as data in motion encryption and secure API design are addressed early in the development lifecycle, preventing potential risks from being overlooked. This ongoing, real-time security review guarantees that each piece of software is both secure and compliant before reaching the end users.

Pqxel’s Approach to Security

At Pqxel, we adopt a minimal security approach with every development to ensure basic protections like data encryption, secure coding practices, and API security. This ensures that even the most basic software development cycle has robust security measures in place, minimizing risks right from the start.

However, when our clients require software to meet regulatory compliance standards—such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS—we implement full-blown security measures tailored to meet these requirements. These advanced security protocols include advanced encryption, comprehensive vulnerability assessments, regulatory audits, and formal compliance checks. By following a rigorous DevSecOps and Kanban process, we ensure that the software we build not only meets functionality standards but also adheres to all necessary security regulations.

Small Software Development Companies and the Need for Guidance

Unfortunately, many small software development companies or freelancers simply don’t have the resources or expertise to embed security into their processes. These companies often focus on the coding aspect and are unaware of the broader cybersecurity landscape they need to navigate.

Without proper guidance or a dedicated security officer, many small development teams may not realize how critical compliance and security are to the longevity and success of their software. They may do the best they can, but without fully understanding the importance of data protection and regulatory compliance, the risk of a breach—and its associated consequences—becomes a real concern.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Wait for a Breach to Realize the Importance of Security

Whether you’re working with freelancers, small software development companies, or large organizations, security should never be an afterthought. It must be integrated into every phase of the development process. While many small companies may not have the resources to hire a full-time CISO, they can still benefit from collaborating with experts or using structured frameworks like DevSecOps to ensure their software is secure and compliant.

Ultimately, the cost of neglecting security far outweighs the investment in proactive measures. By embracing a secure, Agile Kanban-based development approach with embedded DevSecOps, businesses can minimize risks, comply with regulatory requirements, and protect themselves against the far-reaching consequences of a security breach.

Take the Next Step Toward Stronger Security

Whether you’re a client trying to develop an app, someone who already has an app or software in development, or a software development company unsure of how to approach security, it’s essential to take a proactive stance. Don’t wait for a breach or regulatory penalty to realize the importance of securing your applications.

Feel free to book a free, no-obligation meeting with our team to discuss your concerns. We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and ensure your projects are built with robust, future-proof security at every stage of development.